Wednesday, August 31, 2016

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Erasmus (1466-1536)

Desiderius Erasmus in 1523 as depicted by Hans Holbein the Younger. The Greek and Latin words on the book translate to "The Herculean Labors of Erasmus of Rotterdam".

EMBASSY FINDER

Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country. http://embassy.goabroad.com/ You can also find embassies at https://embassy-finder.com/

CHARITY CORNER

This week your attention is drawn to the terrible need for help for the people of the devastated towns in Italy. We suggest giving via GlobalGiving. A 6.2M earthquake has caused significant damage in central Italy. More than 247 people have been killed. The town of Amatrice is in ruins. Survivors need access to emergency supplies like food, water, and medicine in addition to longer term recovery assistance. All donations to this fund will exclusively support locally driven relief and recovery efforts from this disaster. The Charity is monitored and rated highly.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides
a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a
difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This
link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if
you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the
list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you
need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival
International could be forthcoming. We send you to the campaign page and urge you to choose a cause to support. View this video.

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY

We have added this section to the blog in order to join the struggle
against slavery worldwide. This week we refer you to the the ILO’s Protocol on Forced Labor which is all about modern slavery. We call your
attention to the anti slavery campaign. There you can sign up for action updates.The importance of checking your sellers'
supply chains cannot be overemphasized.
Look for these logos:

Find a campaign to work for. Light must be made to shine in the darkest of places.

Think of your own child or grandchild

Good News! - USA:

Execution Blocked for Jeffery Wood

On 19 August, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted a stay of execution to Jeffery Wood, who was scheduled to be executed in Texas on 24 August. He was sentenced to death in 1998 for a murder committed during a robbery of a convenience store in 1996. He was sitting in a truck outside the store when the murder took place.
No further action is requested of the UA Network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.

GOOD NEWS -SYRIA

Ghina Ahmad Wadi, a 10-year-old Syrian girl shot in the leg on 2 August by a sniper at a government checkpoint in Madaya, a town west of Damascus besieged by Syrian government forces in alliance with Hizbullah fighters, was evacuated to a hospital in Damascus on 13 August to receive the urgent surgery she needed.

Ghina Ahmad Wadi and her 8-year-old sister were on their way to buy medicine for their mother at around 11am on 2 August when they were both wounded at Abdel Majed checkpoint in Madaya. The Syrian government forces had blocked her evacuation to a hospital to receive urgently needed surgery. A relative said that Ghina Ahmad Wadi was shot in her left thigh by a sniper, causing a complex bone fracture and a nerve cut. She added that her sister was also injured.

According to the Syrian Red Crescent, Ghina Ahmad Wadi and her mother were escorted from the besieged town of Madaya to Damascus overnight on 13 August. Ghina Ahmad Wadi’s surgery was successful and she is currently recovering.
Cheers!!

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Help Release Librarian

On 15 August, the Moscow Prosecutor General’s office refused to sign the indictment against Natalya Sharina and the case was sent back for further investigation. It is expected that Natalya Sharina’s house arrest will be extended on 26 August. She is a prisoner of conscience. Please act for her.

DJIBOUTI

Help Release Asylum Seekers, Refugees at Risk of Deportation

For the past month, Djiboutian authorities have been rounding up and detaining hundreds of Ethiopian asylum seekers and refugees with the aim of deporting them back to Ethiopia. They are at risk of torture and other forms of ill-treatment upon their return to Ethiopia. Please call on the Djiboutian authorities to immediately release detained asylum seekers and refugees and to change their policy toward such people.

CHINA

Help Release Guo Feixiong

Imprisoned Chinese Human Rights Defender Yang Maodong (better known by his pen name Guo Feixiong) ended his hunger strike on 18 August after being moved to another prison and promised humane treatment. He is a prisoner of conscience and should be released immediately and unconditionally.Please act on his behalf.

SOUTH AFRICA

End repression at South African winemaker - NOW!

CSAAWU is a South African union representing the majority of workers at Robertson Winery in the Western Cape in South Africa.

Despite their majority representation management refuses to recognize CSAAWU and instead is trying to intimidate union representatives and CSAAWU members. Please click and call upon Robertson Winery to recognize the union and act to improve the conditions of the farm workers who raise their grapes. Conditions are as bad now as they were under the apartheid regime.

UZBEKISTAN/WORLD BANK

World Bank: Stop support for forced labor in Uzbekistan!

The World Bank is investing about $500 million dollars in Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector. One of the main crops produced there is cotton, and it is harvested by millions of Uzbek citizens forced into cotton fields by their own government, which oversees one of the world’s largest state-run forced labor systems.
Please help us tell the World Bank and ILO how important it is to stand with Uzbek citizens to denounce violent retaliation against civil-society monitors and suspend the financing that perpetuates the Uzbek government's use of forced labor! Just a click and a short form. Please act.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Erasmus (1466-1536)

Desiderius Erasmus in 1523 as depicted by Hans Holbein the Younger. The Greek and Latin words on the book translate to "The Herculean Labors of Erasmus of Rotterdam".

EMBASSY FINDER

Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country. http://embassy.goabroad.com/ You can also find embassies at https://embassy-finder.com/

CHARITY CORNER

This week your attention is drawn to The Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, aka DNDi. Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is a collaborative, patients’ needs-driven, non-profit drug research and development (R&D) organization that is developing new treatments for neglected diseases. Since founding of DNDiin 2003, seven key stakeholders have helped to propel the initiative. Each of the original Board Members represents one of the Founding Partners, all of which are centers of excellence in neglected disease research and/or patient care. Drawn primarily from the public sector in neglected disease-endemic countries, they have continued to serve as the backbone of DNDi by providing their expert advice, the benefit of their experience, and key project participation.

Mycetoma, treated only in Khartoum

DNDi’s Founding Partners are:
Indian Council of Medical Research (India)
Institute Pasteur (France)
Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kenya)
Médecins Sans Frontières
Ministry of Health (Malaysia)
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/Fiocruz (Brazil)
WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) is a Permanent Observer

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides
a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a
difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This
link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if
you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the
list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you
need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival
International could be forthcoming. We send you to the campaign page and urge you to choose a cause to support. View this video.

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY

We have added this section to the blog in order to join the struggle
against slavery worldwide. This week we refer you to the the ILO’s Protocol on Forced Labor which is all about modern slavery. We call your
attention to the anti slavery campaign. There you can sign up for action updates.The importance of checking your sellers'
supply chains cannot be overemphasized.
Look for these logos:

Blast it out and make it go viral. Find a campaign to work for. Light must be made to shine in the darkest of places.

Think of your own child or grandchild

Good News! - Mexico

Ildefonso Zamora Released

Mexican prisoner of conscience Ildefonso Zamora was released on 12 August after almost nine months in jail. The local judge presiding over the case complied with a federal judge decision to release Ildefonso Zamora due to lack of evidence that he had been involved in a robbery. No further action is requested of the UA Network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.

Good News!

Russian Federation: Konstantin Zadoya Released

Konstantin Zadoya was released on 3 August from a psychiatric hospital in Novosibirsk, western Siberia. He had been detained there since 7 July and forcibly treated on the basis of a court decision that violated his right to a fair trial. His release happened after the hospital received dozens of letters from activists.
No further action is requested of the UA Network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.

USA: Stop the Execution of Jeffery Wood

Jeffery Wood is scheduled to be executed in Texas on 24 August. He was sentenced to death in 1998 for a murder committed during a robbery of a convenience store in 1996. He was sitting in a truck outside the store when the murder took place. Please write immediately in English or your own language, including Inmate No. #999256 in your appeals

Syria: Help 10-Year-Old Syrian Girl Ghina Ahmad Wadi Immediately

Ghina Ahmad Wadi, a 10-year-old girl, was shot in the leg on 2 August by a sniper at a government checkpoint in Madaya, a town west of Damascus besieged by Syrian government forces since July 2015. Syrian government forces have blocked her evacuation to a hospital in Damascus or Lebanon to receive urgently needed surgeryPlease plead for her.

Thailand

Immediately Release Jatupat Boonphatthararaksa and Wasin Prommanee

Two activists were arrested on 6 August for distributing materials critical of a draft constitution. Both face up to 10 years’ imprisonment under a repressive law governing the referendum. One remains in police custody and began a hunger strike on 7 August. Please act on their behalf.

Israel

Amdocs must recognize union

During April 2015, workers at Amdocs Israel, a hi-tech company, started
to organize in the Histadrut-General Federation of Labour in Israel in
order to form an employees' committee and to negotiate for a collective
agreement. Despite court ruling in favor of the workers, for the past 6 months the Amdocs management has refused to acknowledge
the Histadrut as the employees' representative and refuses to bargain
with it.
Please click and support the workers.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Erasmus (1466-1536)

Desiderius Erasmus in 1523 as depicted by Hans Holbein the Younger. The Greek and Latin words on the book translate to "The Herculean Labors of Erasmus of Rotterdam".

EMBASSY FINDER

Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country. http://embassy.goabroad.com/ You can also find embassies at https://embassy-finder.com/

CHARITY CORNER

This week your attention is drawn to The Global Fund for Women. From their statement:"We want every woman and girl to realize the rights that are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We also stand for other rights that are vital for women’s equality. We stand for a woman’s right to decide if and when she has children, and to have high-quality health care that means she won’t die in pregnancy or during childbirth. We know female genital mutilation is a violation of girls’ rights, and must be eliminated. And we stand for the right of every woman to live equally and free from discrimination, no matter her sexuality or identity."

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides
a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a
difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This
link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if
you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the
list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you
need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival
International could be forthcoming. We send you to the campaign page and urge you to choose a cause to support. View this video.

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY

We have added this section to the blog in order to join the struggle
against slavery worldwide. This week we refer you to the the ILO’s Protocol on Forced Labor which is all about modern slavery. We call your
attention to the anti slavery campaign. There you can sign up for action updates.The importance of checking your sellers'
supply chains cannot be overemphasized.
Look for these logos:

Blast it out and make it go viral. Find a campaign to work for. Light must be made to shine in the darkest of places.

Good News! - Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Vano Kiboko Released

Vano Kiboko, a former Member of Parliament who had
been in detention since December 2014, was released from prison on 5 May
after completing his sentence.

No further action is requested of the UA Network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals

Philippines

Condemn Extrajudicial Executions

Hundreds of criminal suspects allegedly linked to the
drug trade have been killed since June 30, the day President Duterte
took office in the Philippines. Some of these cases may amount to
extrajudicial executions. Please call for a stop to this pernicious practice.

Republic of Congo

Release Paulin Makaya

Congolese political opposition member Paulin Makaya
was sentenced on 25 July to two years imprisonment and a fine of 3,800
Euros for taking part in an unauthorized protest. Paulin Makaya is a
prisoner of conscience who should never have been arrested in the first
place. Please call for his release.

Egypt

Release Islam Khalil

Islam Khalil, who was subjected to enforced
disappearance for 122 days, has been tortured in detention and placed in
solitary confinement after he spoke out against putting more detainees
in his already overcrowded cell. He went on hunger strike in protest and
his health has deteriorated since. He has been denied access to a
doctor. Please call for his immediate release.

Ecuador: Government threatens to shut down teachers' union

The teachers' union UNE of Ecuador (Unión Nacional de Educadores) is
facing the threat of being shut down as the Ministry of Education has
initiated proceedings for the union's legal dissolution.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Erasmus (1466-1536)

Desiderius Erasmus in 1523 as depicted by Hans Holbein the Younger. The Greek and Latin words on the book translate to "The Herculean Labors of Erasmus of Rotterdam".

EMBASSY FINDER

Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country. http://embassy.goabroad.com/ You can also find embassies at https://embassy-finder.com/

CHARITY CORNER

This week your attention is drawn to Handicapped International (thank you Yosefa for calling this organization to our attention). This organization works to provide prosthetic limbs for victims of land mines and also played a major role in producing the International Convention against Land Mines. We quote: "We create simplified physical rehabilitation programmes to teach people to walk again. We train local technicians to support new amputees and provide follow-up care for people who have been fitted with prosthetic limbs. We also cooperate closely with medical teams in the camps to improve the surgical outcome of amputations."

Kahna playing with her friends-Cambodia

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides
a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a
difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This
link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if
you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the
list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you
need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival
International could be forthcoming. We send you to the campaign page and urge you to choose a cause to support. View this video.

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY

We have added this section to the blog in order to join the struggle
against slavery worldwide. This week we refer you to the the ILO’s Protocol on Forced Labor which is all about modern slavery. We call your
attention to the anti slavery campaign. There you can sign up for action updates.The importance of checking your sellers'
supply chains cannot be overemphasized.
Look for these logos:

Blast it out and make it go viral. Find a campaign to work for. Light must be made to shine in the darkest of places.

Think of your own child or grandchild!

Ukraine

Find Dmytro Koroliov

Dmytro Koroliov was arrested, convicted and given a suspended five-year sentence in 2015 for joining the separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. His mother claims he was abducted by the Security Service of Ukraine on his “release” from detention on 3 August 2015 and that he has been held in secret detention since. She fears for his safety. Please act.

Viet Nam

End Suppression of Demonstrations by Ede Villagers

A spontaneous demonstration by ethnic and religious minority Ede in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam on 14 July was violently suppressed, resulting in injuries to around 20 demonstrators. The arrests and incommunicado detention of at least seven demonstrators raises serious concerns about torture and ill-treatment. Please protest for them.

Zimbabwe

Ensure Safety of Evan Mawarire

There is fear for the safety of Evan Mawarire, a pastor and leader of the #ThisFlag social media movement in Zimbabwe, who called for a national stay-away. He is being sought by the police after the Magistrates’ Court dropped the charge against him and he was freed. Recently, human rights defenders and activists in Zimbabwe have been receiving threats and subjected to arbitrary arrests, ill–treatment and attempted abductions. Please write for him and for the other human rights defenders.

Turkey

Rights hard-won cannot be taken away

Following the failed coup attempt on 15 July 2016, a crackdown of exceptional proportions continues in Turkey. Please join the protests.

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Erasmus (1466-1536)

Desiderius Erasmus in 1523 as depicted by Hans Holbein the Younger. The Greek and Latin words on the book translate to "The Herculean Labors of Erasmus of Rotterdam".

EMBASSY FINDER

Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country. http://embassy.goabroad.com/ You can also find embassies at https://embassy-finder.com/

CHARITY CORNER

This week your attention is drawn to Handicapped International (thank you Yosefa for calling this organization to our attention). This organization works to provide prosthetic limbs for victims of land mines and also played a major role in producing the International Convention against Land Mines. We quote: "We create simplified physical rehabilitation programmes to teach people to walk again. We train local technicians to support new amputees and provide follow-up care for people who have been fitted with prosthetic limbs. We also cooperate closely with medical teams in the camps to improve the surgical outcome of amputations."

Kahna playing with her friends-Cambodia

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides
a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a
difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This
link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if
you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the
list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you
need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival
International could be forthcoming. We send you to the campaign page and urge you to choose a cause to support. View this video.

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY

We have added this section to the blog in order to join the struggle
against slavery worldwide. This week we refer you to the the ILO’s Protocol on Forced Labor which is all about modern slavery. We call your
attention to the anti slavery campaign. There you can sign up for action updates.The importance of checking your sellers'
supply chains cannot be overemphasized.
Look for these logos:

Blast it out and make it go viral. Find a campaign to work for. Light must be made to shine in the darkest of places.

Think of your own child or grandchild

Ukraine

Find Dmytro Koroliov

Dmytro Koroliov was arrested, convicted and given a suspended five-year sentence in 2015 for joining the separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. His mother claims he was abducted by the Security Service of Ukraine on his “release” from detention on 3 August 2015 and that he has been held in secret detention since. She fears for his safety. Please act.

Viet Nam

End Suppression of Demonstrations by Ede Villagers

A spontaneous demonstration by ethnic and religious minority Ede in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam on 14 July was violently suppressed, resulting in injuries to around 20 demonstrators. The arrests and incommunicado detention of at least seven demonstrators raises serious concerns about torture and ill-treatment. Please protest for them.

Zimbabwe

Ensure Safety of Evan Mawarire

There is fear for the safety of Evan Mawarire, a pastor and leader of the #ThisFlag social media movement in Zimbabwe, who called for a national stay-away. He is being sought by the police after the Magistrates’ Court dropped the charge against him and he was freed. Recently, human rights defenders and activists in Zimbabwe have been receiving threats and subjected to arbitrary arrests, ill–treatment and attempted abductions. Please write for him and for the other human rights defenders.

Turkey

DEMONSTRATION ON BEHALF OF MIGRANTS

Rights hard-won cannot be taken away

Following the failed coup attempt on 15 July 2016, a crackdown of exceptional proportions continues in Turkey. Please join the protests.